The student newspaper of Andover High School

AP English: Rumors vs. Reality

During the few weeks following finals week a variety of speculations concerning the AP English midterm answers were traded by AHS students, especially those of the senior class.

However, the English department teachers have concluded that the rumors circulating about the cheating on the AP English midterm this year are false. According to Ms. Whalen, head of the English department, “there was no widespread intentional cheating but that perceived advantages and disadvantages based on scheduling and preparation compromised the results of the multiple choice test.”

When the AP English midterm was given at the end of January, several rumors quickly circulated through the senior class claiming that students had cheated on the exam. Many students conjectured that the cheating had occurred through social media, specifically that someone had posted the answers to the multiple choice questions in a Facebook group so that several students would be able to view and bring the answers into the exam room for their benefit. Many students were angered by the rumors, especially since subsequent theories indicated that all AP English students would have to retake the exam to ensure that the grades be a fair and accurate representation of each student. Luckily, these extensive rumors have been proven to be false.

Ms. Whalen investigated the cheating rumors and spoke to several students as well as the AP English teachers. Once the department reached the conclusion that there was no cheating on the exam, Ms. Whalen released a statement on the measures that the teachers took in order to grade the exams. She said, “Student grades were recalculated using only the essay portion of the exam as a final term grade and not a common mid-term. We believe in the value of common assessments. A multiple choice practice test (not produced by the College Board) will be administered to the classes in early March. Teachers will be able use the results to determine the preparedness of students for the May exam, and the results will be a third-term grade.”

About the Warrior Weekly

* The Warrior Weekly, the online student newspaper of Andover High School, strives to maintain a weekly schedule, publishing new news articles each Friday and other content throughout the week.

* The mission of our paper is to provide Andover High School students an open forum to discuss issues relevant to our school community. While the paper is advised by faculty, students are the essential creative force behind the content.

* The writing staff is composed of students of Newspaper Production in the English Department; members of the Andover High School Newspaper Club also submit articles.

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